This is a list of the Bay Area’s most notable restaurant and bar openings, with new updates published once a week. Did we miss something great? Please, drop us a line.
SOMA — Merchant Roots’s 12-seat “speakeasy” Bar Orso, is set to debut on Tuesday, February 17, set within their space in SoMa, the San Francisco Standard reports. The bar is inspired by redwoods and Northern California flavors, per chef Ryan Shelton, and the decor follows many of those cues. Bar Orso features cocktails like the team’s take on Fernet and Coke, featuring house-made nocino, along with seasonal options like Ruby Woo, an absinthe- and mezcal-based drink with dry vermouth and wild salal berries. There are some small bites available, as well, including a tri-tip sandwich. 1148 Mission Street, San Francisco
NOB HILL — Tablehopper has the scoop on the new restaurant Goldenette, which opens officially on Monday, February 16. It goes into the former Toast Eatery space, and it’s a partnership between Eddie Naser, the owner of Toast, and Wes Rowe of (now closed) WesBurger. The space has been redesigned, and it’s an all-day diner serving breakfast sandwiches, egg combo plates, patty melts, and crispy chicken sandwiches. There’s also a coffee program, plus beers and wines. 1601 Polk Street, San Francisco
HAYES VALLEY — SFist caught the opening of new Neapolitan pizza spot Sforno, and Tablehopper filled out some of the details. The restaurant is backed by some pizza pros hailing from Italy, and the space features a wood-fired Neapolitan oven, slinging those aforementioned pizzas, plus calzone and portafoglio, “the ultimate street pizza,” as Tablehopper calls it. 514 Octavia Street, San Francisco
OAKLAND — Cenaduria Elvira makes the leap from its roots in an East Oakland backyard to a permanent restaurant location, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Owner Elvira Varela began serving food out of her home on the weekends in 2020, earning praise for her food from the start. Expect crowd favorites like Varela’s tacos dorados and tostada raspada, and the article states that “the menu is largely the same,” as the home-cooked dishes that drew crowds to Varela’s home. 468 3rd Street, Oakland
Dining and Cooking